How did you get interested in the profession of pharmacy? I was always interested in science and math. When I was in high school, I spent time shadowing my aunt who is a nurse at a community hospital. The floor my aunt worked on also contained a small, satellite pharmacy. I started talking to the pharmacy staff about future career opportunities and the rest is history.

Why did you choose OPA as a rotation? Throughout our pharmacy curriculum, we have many opportunities to gain experience in community and institutional pharmacy settings. OPA gives you a chance to see pharmacy from a different angle. We know that legislation is continually affecting our practice, especially is these times of healthcare reform. Completing a rotation at OPA allowed me to see how I can influence these healthcare changes and make sure my voice is heard.

What was the most significant or surprising experience at OPA? This month, I was present for the emergency preparedness task force meeting. It was awesome to see how great a role pharmacists play in this process and what opportunities we have to serve our community and provide input on how to most effectively manage these events. With my background in medical mission work and continuous desire to serve others, this is definitely an area of practice that I would like to be involved with following licensure!